ABOUT US

We are a surfing, coasteering, standup paddle and ocean skills centre located in the Headland Hotel, Fistral Beach. Our speciality is in creating a friendly, welcoming environment where everyone feels included; just like being a member of your own exclusive surfing club 🙂 To maintain this level of service, we do things a bit differently to how you may have seen in other watersports centres. Most noticeably, we run the lowest client to instructor ratios for group lessons in town; maximum of 6:1 (ISA regulations permit 10:1). We don't run an online booking system with arbitrary start times, instead we individually schedule each group lesson start time according to not only tides, which we can predict, but also seasonal beach state and sand banks, which can only be assessed through being on the beach all year round.

We'll only offer you the lessons that are right for you. If after having a lesson or two with us you've become quite independent, rather than pushing for another lesson we're likely to suggest you rent a board and suit from us and consolidate your skills that way. Or, even though it seems like it might be a good idea, we seldom see any benefit in having two lessons in one day. Best to surf in the morning, rest and recover, and hit it fresh the next day. Perhaps not the most ruthless business model, but it's more fun for everyone and each season we're seeing new faces who soon progress to become familiar regulars 🙂

LOCATION

Surf Sanctuary is advantageously located within the grounds of the iconic Headland Hotel, Newquay, directly overlooking Fistral Beach, Little Fistral and The Cribbar. Most of our lessons are run from Fistral Beach which is just a short walk away across the hotel lawns. There are no roads to cross or busy pavements to navigate. Our surf school offers fantastic facilities from heated changing rooms with hot showers to dehumidified wetsuit and board storage. Even in the depths of winter clients can be assured of a comfortable experience.